Christmas at the Castle

by Melissa McClone

  Two days didn’t seem long enough, but maybe he was right. She hoped so. The words I love you sat on the tip of her tongue, ready to leap out of her mouth.

  Too soon.

  He was right about not rushing things. Especially tonight after so much had happened today.

  “I understand. I need to check on the puppies.”

  He laughed. “Of course you do.”

  “Goodnight,” she said.

  Gill kissed the top of her hand. “I’ll see you at the wedding breakfast.”

  Kat nodded, but she didn’t have to wait that long. Anticipation buzzed from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Because she knew she would see him in her dreams.

  *

  After checking on the dogs at the stable, Kat returned to the castle and peeked into the ballroom. Only a few guests remained. One of them was Emily.

  The woman motioned to Kat. “Could I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Sure.” Kat followed her out of the ballroom to a hallway where the film crew was. “What’s going on?”

  Brad handed his cell phone to her. “Watch this.”

  Video from the wedding ball played. “I didn’t think you were filming.”

  Conrad hung his head. “We weren’t supposed to be.”

  “We just wanted a little extra footage,” Wes explained. “So we positioned ourselves in four corners during the bouquet toss and used our phones.”

  “We’d never use anything without permission.” Dylan fingered his collar. “This footage was on my phone.”

  “You’ll understand why we want you to see this,” Brad added.

  Emily stood with her arms across her chest. She wasn’t smiling.

  Kat watched herself catch the bouquet. She listened to the congratulations and tensed the moment Rowena approached with that glass of red wine in her hand, but wait…

  “Who is behind Rowena?” she asked.

  “You’ll see,” Emily said.

  Kat took a closer look. “That’s Queen Louise.”

  She watched the queen not only bump into Rowena, but also purposefully push the princess’s arm forward. Wine flew out of the glass and landed on Kat’s dress.

  Kat’s mouth gaped. She stared at the screen, not wanting to believe what she’d watched. “Queen Louise did that on purpose.”

  Emily sighed. “I’m sorry, Kat.”

  Dread slivered through Kat.

  Two things were never clearer.

  Queen Louise truly hated Kat. And she and Gill would never get his mother’s approval to date or do anything else.

  Her breath hitched. Flames seemed to lick her throat. Kat felt like crying, but she couldn’t. Not until she did something first.

  She looked at Brad and the rest of the crew. “Can I get a copy of this, please? There’s someone who needs to see it.”

  *

  Later that night, the wedding guests had left the castle or returned to their rooms in the guest wing. Kat waited until Queen Louise was alone and approached her outside the ballroom.

  “Excuse me, ma’am.” Kat curtsied. “May I speak with you for a moment?”

  “Yes.” Queen Louise clucked her tongue. “Too bad about your bridesmaid dress.”

  “About that…”

  A steely resolve born out of love for Sophie and Gill gave Kat strength. A mother was important, and Kat never wanted Sophie and Gill to experience the questioning or wondering or hurt as Kat had. She removed a cell phone from her pocket and brought up the video. “Please watch this.”

  “Watch this, ma’am,” Queen Louise corrected.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Kat hit play.

  “It’s the bridal bouquet toss. Sophie looks so stunning. Such a beautiful bride.”

  Kat didn’t say anything. She heard the shouts and the clapping during the toss.

  “You got lucky,” the queen said.

  “Yes, I did.” Kat hesitated a moment. “Ma’am.”

  The moment with Rowena and the wineglass appeared on the screen.

  Queen Louise sucked in a breath. “Where did you get this?”

  “It was given to me.”

  The video clip made what the queen had done clear.

  Anger burned in the queen’s eyes. “What do you want?”

  “Peace.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I want a peaceful Christmas. For you, for Sophie and Bertrand, for Gill and me.”

  “Nothing else?”

  “That’s all.

  The queen’s eyes narrowed with accusation. “You’re in love with Guillaume.”

  All Kat could do was tell the truth. She squared her shoulders. “Yes.”

  “He’ll never marry you.”

  Her heart squeezed tight. “I know.”

  Queen Louise drew back. “Then why are you doing this?”

  “Because I love him.” Kat took a breath and tried to control her heart rate, which was beating out of control. “Gill loves you and his country, and I would never want to come between you and him. I know what it’s like not to have your parents be part of your life. I won’t let that happen to him.”

  Queen Louise scoffed. “You think my son would choose you over me?”

  “No, but it’s a decision he shouldn’t have to make.”

  “So what do you get from two days of peace?”

  “Gill loves Christmas. He’ll have an enjoyable one. I get two days with him before I leave on the twenty-sixth.”

  Queen Louise tapped her finger against her chin. “No matter what happens, you’ll leave on the twenty-sixth?”

  Not trusting her voice, Kat nodded.

  “Fine. You’ll have your peace.”

  She didn’t feel any relief.

  The queen eyed her. “I never would have expected this from you. You’re stronger than I thought.”

  Kat raised her chin. “It’s easy to do when you have nothing to lose.”

  She didn’t.

  Because Gill was never hers.

  But she would make the most of these next two days…

  *

  Gill’s alarm rang, but he was already awake.

  Knowing Kat was only a few doors away made sleep impossible. She consumed his every thought. More than once last night, he’d walked out into the hallway intending to go to her room, only to turn around and return to his.

  He tried to blame the feelings on physical attraction, but this was…more.

  Lying at the food of the bed, Max barked.

  “Shhh.” Gill sat and touched the top of the dog’s head. “People might be sleeping.”

  Was Kat still in bed? He dragged a hand across his face as an image of her tangled in sheets, her hair mussed from his touch, rose in his brain like fireworks. Razor stubble scratched his palm.

  Kat Parsons hadn’t gotten under his skin. She was in his blood and on his brain and inside his heart. No woman had made him feel this way. His ex-girlfriend Clarissa seemed like nothing more than an infatuation compared to his feelings for Kat. Feelings that had changed in only two weeks.

  Could this be real? Or was he just caught up in the romance of his sister’s royal wedding and the magic of the Christmas season?

  “Feels real.”

  He’d known Kat for fifteen years as his sister’s friend, an American teenager, a kind girl. Those things were still the same except she was no longer a teenager. But over the past two weeks—not long enough he imagined his mother saying—he’d gotten to know the woman. A beautiful, intelligent, caring woman.

  Max rolled onto his back.

  “No rubs for you this morning. I need to get ready.”

  Gill showered, shaved, and dressed for the wedding breakfast. No need to wear a tuxedo. A suit would do. He could change into dressier clothes later for the Christmas Eve festivities.

  “Ready for breakfast?” he asked the dog.

  Max jumped. Like Sophie, the dog didn’t hide any emotion, especially when food was involved. He ran and pawed at the door. Max could be more interested
in seeing Mama and the puppies than eating.

  Gill opened the door.

  The dog ran out.

  When he reached Kat’s room, he stopped and knocked.

  No answer.

  She must be downstairs.

  Except she wasn’t there, either. He headed to the stable and found her sitting with Mama and the puppies.

  “I thought you might be out here,” he said.

  “Just wanted to check on the wee ones.” She grinned. “They’re doing well. Brad Hammond told me last night the film crew wants to get more footage of them.”

  “That’s fine,” Gill said. “I’ll have Frederick contact them and let my mother know.”

  “Can you believe it’s Christmas Eve?”

  “No. Or that Sophie’s married.” Gill shook his head. “Did you know Jacques is staying for the holidays?”

  “That’s wonderful.” Kat stared at the puppies. “I want this to be the best Christmas ever.”

  Gill grinned. “Sounds good to me. How would you like to start?”

  She pulled something out of her pocket. “With this.”

  He took a closer look. Laughed. “Mistletoe. I’m in.”

  “I thought you might be. But what are you doing way over there?” She stood and brushed off her backside. “Come over here and kiss me.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‡

  The magic continued throughout Christmas Eve. Kat spent every second with Gill. She wanted to form enough memories to last a lifetime. From wrapping gifts to dressing up and serving the staff Christmas Eve dinner, she was the happiest she’d ever been.

  When the thought of leaving on the twenty-sixth reared its ugly head, she ignored the sadness and heartache she knew would be coming and focused on Gill and the beauty of the holiday.

  Later that night as midnight approached, Kat was in the castle’s chapel with his family and friends. She almost lost it. The poinsettias, flickering candles, and wooden nativity set at the altar were simple, yet perfect. She understood why Sophie had wanted to get married here.

  Kat glanced at Gill, who sat beside her. This was where she would…

  Don’t go there.

  He held her hand and sang Christmas carols. His voice flowed through her, wrapped around her heart, and gave her a great big hug. After the service, he’d wished her Merry Christmas and kissed her goodnight.

  If only time could stop…

  Christmas day was just as special. From eating a buffet breakfast to opening stockings to handing out presents. She hadn’t been part of a big celebration in years, and though this family wasn’t hers, she pretended it was. And Gill, too.

  For today.

  In the sitting room, surrounded by his mother and friends, he gave Kat a gift wrapped in red paper and tied with a silver bow. “This is for you.”

  She’d given him a pirate ship ornament, a book on pirate lore, and an eye patch as reminders of the pirate prince who plundered and stole her heart.

  Kat untied the bow and then ripped off the paper. She lifted the top off the box. Beneath the neatly creased tissue paper was a folder with a photograph of the African savannah on the front. “What…?”

  Smiling, he leaned toward her. “Open the folder.”

  She did. And gasped.

  “What is it?” Queen Louise asked.

  The words blurred through Kat’s tears. He’d known what the perfect gift would be and given it to her. She was touched, shaken, and if she hadn’t known he was the one for her, she did now. She cleared her throat. “It’s a travel voucher for airfare and a tour of Africa.”

  Rowena’s mouth gaped. “Now that’s a present.”

  “An extravagant one,” Queen Louise said with an incredulous stare.

  Kat’s heart overflowed with love. She looked at Gill. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything.” He leaned closer and kissed her.

  Right there in front of friends, family, and the staff. The day was pure bliss. Perfection.

  But on the twenty-sixth, it was all over. The magic had ended. Santa hadn’t delivered a happy ending. No miracle had appeared.

  She had to go.

  A forlorn look on his face, Gill stood inside the airport. He held onto both of her hands. “Stay in Alistonia. Stay with me.”

  “I can’t.” Kat wouldn’t meet his gaze. She couldn’t. “Your mother has other plans for you.”

  “So? I’m making my own plans for the future. Ones I hope will include you. There’s something between us.”

  “There is, and maybe if you were just some guy with a meddling mother, it might be different, but you’re a crown prince and she’s the queen. Things aren’t that simple.”

  “I choose you. I will always choose you.”

  Those words confirmed what she knew in her heart. She would never hurt him, Sophie, and Jacques. “That’s why I have to go. Your family is finally back together. I won’t be the one who comes between all of you.”

  “That would never happen.”

  “It will if I stay.”

  “No.” The word echoed.

  Oh, sweet prince. Kat wanted to believe as he did, and let him convince her to stay, but she couldn’t. “Look at what happened with Jacques.”

  “That was different.”

  “Are you sure about that?” she asked.

  “I…” Realization dawned on his face. “You’re right. It’s not different. Jacques wanted to pick his own bride—the Church, but Mother didn’t agree. She wants to pick my bride, too, instead of letting me choose my wife. But this isn’t a hopeless situation.”

  “I’m sorry, but it is.”

  “You might as well take your knife out of your suitcase and stick it in my heart. That’s how you’re making me feel right now.”

  She struggled to keep herself together when all she wanted to do was fall in a heap at Gill’s feet. But she was leaving because that was the best thing for him and his family. She hoped he understood that someday.

  Tears stung her eyes, but she looked up to keep them at bay. If she started crying, she might lose what little strength she had left.

  She squeezed his hands. “The one thing Sophie has shown me over the years is the importance of family. I always thought there was this perfect family, one that met every statistic, and that lived happily ever after. I longed to be a part of that kind of family because I thought I’d missed out. But I see families differently now. They are real, changing like the seasons, and far from perfect. Families take work and effort. Some people aren’t cut out for that effort. Others are, and they thrive.

  “Your mother is a meddler. But she interferes because she loves you. Parents, even meddling mothers, need be a part of their children’s life. I won’t come between you and her.”

  “Is there nothing I can say to change your mind?”

  Kat took a deep breath. “I-I’m sorry. I wish things could be different.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I can’t come between a family. I just can’t do that knowing what it’s like to have parents, but never have them part of my life. I won’t do that to you or Sophie.” Kat stood, rose up on her tiptoes, and kissed him gently on the lips. “Goodbye, Gill.”

  *

  The days passed slowly, miserably, for Gill. Out in the stable, he sat by the nursing puppies. “Good job, Mama.”

  The name suited her. She took good care of her little ones. The pups looked more like round balls of fur than dogs, but they seemed to be changing every day. Of the six, four had homes waiting for them once they were old enough.

  Gill thought about keeping one himself, but he decided to give Mama a home at the castle instead. He had to do something to make Max happy. The dog acted miserable. No appetite. No desire to do anything but check on Mama.

  A puppy squirmed between two others to eat.

  He snapped a photo with his cell phone. Sophie would want to see this. And Kat…

  Gill missed her. She was on his mind constantly.
He wondered if her being gone was the reason Max was acting like he’d lost his best friend. Gill felt as if he had.

  His mother entered the stall. She touched his shoulder. “You’re enthralled by those puppies.”

  He wanted to shrug away from her touch. She was the reason Kat had left, even though he wasn’t without blame.

  If he’d had more backbone or could walk away from his duty…from the throne.

  But he knew how he’d felt when Jacques had done that. Sophie deserved to live her life. Still, Gill didn’t know if he could continue like this.

  His mother moved closer to the puppies. “They remind me of you when you were little. All you wanted to do was eat. Day and night.”

  “That’s what babies do.”

  “I know. I had three of them.” Her gaze lingered on the puppies and Mama, and then she turned. “Rowena is leaving today.”

  “She should have left the day she turned off my cell phone.”

  “We’ll find you another princess.”

  “No, we won’t.” He stood. “I want Kat.”

  “She’s a strong woman.”

  “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said about her.” He looked at Mama taking care of her little ones. “Did you know one of the reasons Kat’s so strong? Her mom and dad weren’t a part of her life. They dumped her with her grandparents to pursue their research and died in Africa. They’re buried there. That’s why I gave her that plane ticket and tour. Not so she could take a vacation, but so she could see where they’d lived and visit their gravesite. Maybe that will give her some closure with her parents.”

  His mother covered her mouth with her fingers. “So that’s why…”

  “What?”

  “She mentioned something to me about not wanting to come between us.”

  “She meant it. Her grandparents raised her and taught her the value of family. But she said she never really understood it until now. Family means everything to her… including a family that isn’t her own.”

  The agony in Kat’s voice the day she’d left had matched the sadness in her gaze. He’d fought to hold onto her, until he’d realized she’d made her decision, and, although she’d been physically present to say goodbye, emotionally she’d already left.